La. to try again for Race to the Top grants

KEVIN McGILLAssociated Press Writer

Published: Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 29, 2010 at 7:55 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana's education chief says the state will apply again for federal "Race to the Top" money after losing out in the first round, but he expressed little desire to amend the state's plan just to placate school boards and teachers who had objected to it.

The U.S. Department of Education on Monday awarded Delaware and Tennessee $600 million as part of the $4.3 billion program to help states improve student performance and transform struggling schools. Louisiana had been one of 16 finalists, ranking No. 11 among 40 states plus the District of Columbia that applied for the grants.

Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said during a telephone conference that state officials will take a look at what went into federal department's decision and reapply for a second round of money. Federal officials will collect new applications for the program in June.

"We hope to come back in the second half and win the ball game," Pastorek said.

Exactly how the state's application might be adjusted will be decided after officials look at the education department's scoring, Pastorek said.

He said federal officials had expressed concern that only about half of Louisiana public school students would be in school districts or charter schools that signed on to participate in the "Race to the Top" program as proposed by state officials.

The state's plan would have required changes in the way schools operate. One of the most controversial changes would link teacher pay, retention and promotion to student achievement.

Twenty-eight of 69 school districts and most charter schools in the state signed on.

But the Louisiana School Boards Association and the Louisiana Association of Educators, one of the two major teacher unions in the state, objected to the plan. The other major union, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, endorsed the plan while expressing reservations.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised Tennessee and Delaware because all their school districts approved the grant plan.

Pastorek said the department would continue to reach out to school boards and unions but expressed reluctance to win them over by making major changes to the state's plan. "I hate to adjust what we think is right just so that we can get a bigger score on collaboration."

Pastorek said that in the districts that signed on to the state plan, there was strong participation by unions and school boards.

The LAE said the loss of the Race to the Top money "brought a sense of relief" to Louisiana teachers.

"A 'win' they feared, would in fact represent a 'loss' as the state would have been moving one step closer to implementing unproven strategies that would have done more harm than good, and undermined the spirit of public education," the union said in a news release.

<p>NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana's education chief says the state will apply again for federal "Race to the Top" money after losing out in the first round, but he expressed little desire to amend the state's plan just to placate school boards and teachers who had objected to it.</p><p>The U.S. Department of Education on Monday awarded Delaware and Tennessee $600 million as part of the $4.3 billion program to help states improve student performance and transform struggling schools. Louisiana had been one of 16 finalists, ranking No. 11 among 40 states plus the District of Columbia that applied for the grants.</p><p>Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said during a telephone conference that state officials will take a look at what went into federal department's decision and reapply for a second round of money. Federal officials will collect new applications for the program in June.</p><p>"We hope to come back in the second half and win the ball game," Pastorek said.</p><p>Exactly how the state's application might be adjusted will be decided after officials look at the education department's scoring, Pastorek said.</p><p>He said federal officials had expressed concern that only about half of Louisiana public school students would be in school districts or charter schools that signed on to participate in the "Race to the Top" program as proposed by state officials.</p><p>The state's plan would have required changes in the way schools operate. One of the most controversial changes would link teacher pay, retention and promotion to student achievement.</p><p>Twenty-eight of 69 school districts and most charter schools in the state signed on.</p><p>But the Louisiana School Boards Association and the Louisiana Association of Educators, one of the two major teacher unions in the state, objected to the plan. The other major union, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, endorsed the plan while expressing reservations.</p><p>Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised Tennessee and Delaware because all their school districts approved the grant plan.</p><p>Pastorek said the department would continue to reach out to school boards and unions but expressed reluctance to win them over by making major changes to the state's plan. "I hate to adjust what we think is right just so that we can get a bigger score on collaboration."</p><p>Pastorek said that in the districts that signed on to the state plan, there was strong participation by unions and school boards.</p><p>The LAE said the loss of the Race to the Top money "brought a sense of relief" to Louisiana teachers.</p><p>"A 'win' they feared, would in fact represent a 'loss' as the state would have been moving one step closer to implementing unproven strategies that would have done more harm than good, and undermined the spirit of public education," the union said in a news release.</p>